Sparks Releases Funds For Fort Smith Osteopathic College

Sparks Health System is making an early release of $13.5 million to be applied toward the opening of a proposed $60 million regional medical school in Fort Smith.

Sparks Health System is making an early release of $13.5 million to be applied toward the opening of a proposed $60 million regional medical school in Fort Smith.

The proposed Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine will be at Chaffee Crossing; the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority donated 200 acres near Chad Colley Boulevard for its development.

The Sparks money is a portion of funds that were escrowed as a result of the 2009 sale of Sparks Regional Medical Center, according to a Sparks news release. By agreement of the parties, an additional $10 million will be released Dec. 1, 2015, the release states.

"This is another wonderful example of a community-wide effort to meet a great community need," Kyle Parker, president and CEO of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, stated in the release.

The college would be Arkansas’ first college of osteopathic medicine and one of 31 in the United States. Early estimates show it would have a $100 million annual economic impact on the region, while also addressing future needs for primary care physicians, the release states.

"We are excited to support the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine for their commitment to educate physicians in our area," stated Jeremy Drinkwitz, chief operating officer of Sparks. "This school will expand the number of providers available to serve patients in our area, and we hope many of these physicians will choose to stay in the area after graduation."

Citing commitments from the Fort Smith Regional Healthcare Foundation, the Degen Foundation, the land donation, an anonymous $14 million gift and now the funds by Sparks, Parker stated, "This school and its mission to provide care for medically underserved areas will be transformative for our region and state."

The college anticipates accepting its first class in fall 2016. Sparks Regional Medical Center is among the facilities where these students will complete their clinical rotations, the release states.

Plans for the school were unveiled in February. In June, Risley & Associates of Fort Smith was announced as lead architectural firm; officials said then that dirtwork will begin in September, with construction starting in February or March 2015.